Air deflector



June 1, 1948. E. A. SHELLBERG 2,442,441

AIR DEFLECTOR Filed May 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l A? 13/ J I I] B 4 /0 W June 1, 1948; E. A. SHELLBERG 2,442,441

AIR DEFLECTOR Filed May 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 1, 1948 UN 1 TED STATES i AQTENT QFFICE AIR. DEFLECTOR Edward A. Shellberg, Chicago, Ill. Application May'lS, 1944, Serial No; 536,211

6 Claims. I

This invention relates to air deflectors positioned to the rear of the propeller blades of an airplane and substantially at right anglesthereto.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide air deflectors for airplanes which enable the plane to have increased speed and higher rate of climb and carry heavier loads, thereby resulting in the saving of fuel. My constructions are economical of manufacture, easil installed, ellicient in operation, lastin in wear, and have such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown herein preferred embodiments of my invention, yet I Wish it understood that they are susceptible of modification and change Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of my device with blades extendin diagonally from the rim in operating position on an airplane; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of my air deflector with radial blades Without the pro peller; Fig. 4 is an edge view of the device shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front elevaticnal View of another embodiment of my device operating position on an airplane; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of my invention without the propeller, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line S8 of Fig. 7.

One embodiment selected to illustrate my invention shown particularly in Fig. 1 discloses a propeller ill having a plurality of blades H extending to a central hub portion 12, which is mounted on a revolving shaft !3 driven by the motor of the airplane. I provide an attachment 3% having a central hub portion 3| adapted to be mounted on the driving shaft IQ of the airplane, preferably slightly to the rear of the propeller hub l2. My attachment 3% has a plurality of spokes 32 outwardly extending from the hub 3! to spaced rims 33. It is of course, Within the contemplation of my invention that I may use a single rim instead of the spaced rims. Extending outwardly from said rims 33 are a plurality of radially spaced blades 34.

In Fig. 1 I show the blades 34 extending diagonally from the radius of the rims 33. In Fig. 3 my blades 34 extend at right angles from the radius of the rims 33. It is within the spirit of my invention to provide blades 34 extending outwardly from rims 33 in either form or in reasonable variation therefrom. In all of my forms the In use the blades 34 take and release the high pressure air in front -of the engine or fuselage l9 and force it back of the blades ll. This removes pressure atthe hub.

' As the air is forced out back of the blades ll, this will stall the airand create a higher pres sure back of the blades ll resulting in increased speed of the plane.

In another embodiment of invention as shown in 5 to Fig. 8, I provide the nose 3,5 which revolves with shaft i3, with a plurality of radially spaced blades 38. These blades 35 may be integrally cast with the nose or suitably attached thereto. The blades 3.6 are substantially at right angles to the propeller blades H which are positioned in front of blades 36.

In use. the blades 36 take and release the high pressure air in front of the engine or fuselage l9 and force it back of the blades ll. This re moves pressure at, the hub.

As the air is forced out backfof the blades ll, this will stall the, air and create a higher pres sure back of the blades H resulting in increased speed of the plane.

In all embodiments of my device my blades 34. and 36 may be cambered to receive the air striking thereagainst, and to deflect the air out back of the propeller blades I I.

While I have specified that blades 34 and de fiectors 36 are preferably at substantially right angles to the blades ll, yet exactly right angles may be used, or more or less than the degree of a right angle may be employed.

As disclosed in Fig. 8 I provide the rear portion of the nose 35 adjacent the fuselage or engine I9 with a flared bell-shaped portion 31 to aid in the directing of the air flow away from the fuselage or engine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an airplane having a motor, a driving shaft driven by said motor, a propeller in the front position mounted ahead of said motor on the driving shaft and rigid therewith, said propeller having a plurality of blades, an attachment mounted on the driving shaft and rigid therewith between the motor and the propeller and slightly to the rear of the propeller, said attachment having a plurality of blades positioned substantially at right angles to the plane of rotation of the propeller, said propeller and said attachment adapted upon rotation of said driving shaft to rotate therewith as a unit.

2. In an airplane having a motor, a driving shaft driven by said motor, a propeller in the front position mounted ahead of said motor on the driving shaft and rigid therewith, said propeller having a plurality of blades, an air defiector member having a central hub portion mounted on the driving shaft and rigid therewith and positioned between the motor and said propeller and slightly to the rear of the propeller, said air deflector member having a plurality of outwardly extending spokes, a rim receiving the outer ends of said spokes, and a plurality of radially spaced blades extending outwardly from said rim, said blades positioned substantially at right angles to the plane of rotation of the propeller, said propeller and said air deflector adapted upon rotation of said driving shaft to rotate therewith as a unit.

3. In an airplane having a motor, a driving shaft driven by said motor, a propeller in the front position mounted ahead of said motor on the driving shaft and rigid therewith, said propeller having a plurality of blades, an air deflector member having a central hub portion mounted on the driving shaft and rigid therewith and positioned between the motor and said propeller and slightly to the rear of the propeller, said air deflector member having a plurality of outwardly extending spokes, a rim receiving the outer ends of said spokes, and a plurality of radially spaced blades extending diagonally outwardly from said rim, said blades positioned substantially at right angles to the plane of rotation of the propeller, said propeller and said air defiector adapted upon rotation of said driving shaft to rotate therewith as a unit.

4. In an airplane having a motor, a driving shaft driven by said motor, a nose mounted on said shaft and rigid therewith, a propeller in the front position mounted ahead of said motor on said shaft and rigid therewith, said propeller having a plurality of blades and a plurality of air deflector blades positioned on saidnose between the motor and said propeller and to the rear of said propeller, said blades on the nose at substantially right angles to the plane of rotation of the propeller, said propeller and said nose adapted upon rotation of said driving shaft to rotate therewith as a unit.

5. In an airplane having a motor, a fuselage, and a driving shaft, a nose mounted ahead of said motor on said shaft and rigid therewith, and having a rear flared bell-shaped portion adjacent said fuselage, a propeller in the front position mounted on said shaft and rigid therewith, said propeller having a plurality of blades and a plurality of air deflector blades positioned on said nose between the motor and propeller to the rear of said propeller, said blades on the nose at substantially right angles to the plane of rotation of the propeller, said propeller and said nose adapted upon rotation of said driving shaft to rotate therewith as a unit.

6. In an airplane having a motor, a driving shaft driven by said motor, and a plurality of propeller blades mounted on said shaft and rigid therewith, said blades positioned ahead of said motor in the front position, a plurality of air deflector blades mounted on said shaft and rigid therewith and positioned between the motor and propeller and to the rear of said propeller blades and substantially at right angles to the plane of rotation of the propeller to deflect the air to the rear portions of said propeller blades, said propeller and said air deflector blades adapted to rotate as a unit.

EDWARD A- SHEILBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

